Washington -
The Trump administration is considering a plan to turn over much of the Afghan US war effort to private contractors supposedly as a means of breaking the stalemate in the war against the Taliban.

Washington -
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating Erick Prince over evidence he used Frontier Services Group, of which he is chair, to sell defense services in Libya. He is also suspected of being involved in a money-laundering deal using the Bank of China.

Washington -
A former Blackwater guard was sentenced to life in prison and three others received 30-year sentences Monday for their roles in a 2007 mass shooting in Iraq that left at least 14 civilians dead.

Washington -
Four former Blackwater security guards were found guilty Wednesday for their roles in a notorious 2007 mass shooting in Baghdad that left at least 14 civilians dead and deepened resentment of America's involvement in Iraq.

Washington -
The top manager in Iraq of the notorious private security firm Blackwater threatened to kill a U.S. State Department investigator for probing the company's performance, the New York Times reported Monday.

Washington -
Blackwater, the controversial private defense contractor that first drew major attention after killing 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad’s Nisoor Square in 2007, has hired former Attorney General John Ashcroft to help pursue lucrative government contracts.

109,032 deaths (66,081 civilians). 176,382 wounded (99,163 civilians). 24,764 air strikes including 1,684 Hellfire missile strikes. These are just some of the figures to have come out of the war logs, the biggest top secret document leak in history.

A business unit of Blackwater Security, the company that provided private security services to diplomats and the US Armed Forces in Iraq, has been awarded a new contract for security services in Afghanistan.

As government secrets go, Blackwater may well be the leader in keeping the lid on sensitive activities in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, thanks in no small part to its secretive owner, Erik Prince.

Gary Jackson, former president of Blackwater, has been indicted for conspiracy to violate firearms laws, making false statements and possession of an unregistered firearm. Four other former employees were charged simultaneously.

Both Canada and the United States seem to have an illusion that is no longer shared by their European allies, namely the idea that an Afghan police force can be trained, and fast enough, to establish rule of law in the country and secure its population.

Guards working for the private security firm Blackwater Worldwide, now known as Xe Services, allegedly worked alongside CIA agents during secret raids against insurgents, including members of al-Qaeda, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Former top Blackwater executives claim the company planned to use about $1 million in bribe money to silence Iraqi officials "and buy their support" after security guards killed 17 Iraqi civilians in 2007. Billions for Blackwater were at stake.

A civil lawsuit accuses Blackwater USA and its founder, Erik Prince, of being responsible for the deaths of more than 20 innocent Iraqis. During a hearing Aug. 29, an attorney for the plaintiffs argued Prince had essentially committed war crimes.

Former intelligence officials describe the CIA’s outsourcing of assassination program to Blackwater, where Al-Qaeda leaders were targets and millions of dollars were spent on a program that was unknown to Congress and canceled by Panetta.

Iraq has barred Blackwater Worldwide form providing security protection to United States diplomats. The company has been accused of using excessive force to carry out its mission. In 2007 17 Iraqi civilians were killed by Blackwater members.

The names of donors to the Clinton Global Initiative have been released. So far, it looks like a very interesting list to say the least: Bill Gates, Chevy Chase and the Blackwater Training Center are among the donors.